Exxon Graftek
 

Hi Folks,
I have been lugging this bike on my life's journey since 1976--
I am not really a bike person but this bike was on its way to the Salvation Army--
After just one look I thought it was something special--
So I ask the elderly lady that I was cleaning out her garage for her if I could have it--
She gladly gave it to me for helping her--
Over the years I did **** some parts from it for my son's bike--a mistake I think--
I think I still have all the original parts-- just need to locate them in my mountains of stuff--
This bike has never seen the road as long as I have had it---
I am thinking about bringing it back to life and need some thoughts - ideas how to move forward--
Will I be just wasting my time?--does this bike have any value?

Well the Colnago chain rings certainly have some value.

The Exxon Graftek was the first carbon fiber bike, so I'm sure it has some collector value. The only issue I've heard of is that the glue that holds the tubes in the lugs will dry out and loosen from age. That's not a huge problem since they can be reglued.

frame
 

thanks for the input---
overall do you think it would be worth my time to restore this thing??
I should be able to bring it back to 1976 when I locate the removed parts--

do you have any recomenditions for cleaning?
I would hate to remove the clear coat---

Thanks again,
Dave

Holy crap, those cranks!

That bike is beautiful, nuff said.

still looking for input
 

I really need to know what you bike heads think about reworking this thing--
I would hate to put time and $$ into something that would be a waste of time--
also ideas how to get started--

It definitely wouldn't be a waste of time. That thing has serious potential.

Given the nature of the bike, I'd aim for a restoration, which means finding all the original pieces. Anything you can't find in your stash, try and get info on, so you can eBay the same or similar parts.

If nothing else, find one of us C&V'ers nearby to you who may be willing to drop by, give the frame a look-over, and present advice (those lugs can crack too, occasionally).

-Kurt

For clean up I'd suggest mild soap and water, and be sure to dry it well afterwards.
Aluminium lugs, Carbon Fiber tubing and water = a battery. Those frames were known for galvanic
corrosion ( if I recall correctly).
I won't even begin to venture a guess as to how much it's worth, but its a gorgeous
frame and a real piece of cycling history, so yah, I'd clean it up and replace all the 1976 parts.

Marty

You mean 'clean them up,' Marty :thumb:

Incidentally, as much as the Mexico'ed Colnago crankset and rings are nice, I dare say they don't suit the Graftek. A conventional NR set would do it well.

-Kurt

well both actually.
I'd clean the bike up, and replace all the 1976 components.

Marty

so when you say replace do you mean to put new parts on --or try to bring it back to org.??

It is absolutely worth cleaning up and restoring.

IIRC Graftec never sold complete bikes, only the frameset. So you don't need to worry too much about finding all of the 'correct' original parts. Pretty much any late '70s components would be good.

The Graftec lugs were stainless steel so galvanic corrosion isn't an issue like it would be with some of the aluminum lugged carbon frames. The only problematic spot I remember is at the top of the seat stays where they connect to the seat lug. There's a narrow section there where they can break.

Here is some Exxon Graftek info from the ClassicRendezvous.com website.

Once that gets cleaned up and put back together it would look nice over there, so be sure to send them some photos.

very interesting history this bike has--thanks for the link--
not being a bike person--knowing nothing about them--
I wounder if it would be better to just try to get rid this thing---
I live in a very small town and do not think I would have any help locally--
anything I would need to restore the bike would have to be shipped in adding cost--
I am just not sure the best way to move forward--
from the sounds of the posts it seems as though I have something special--

Could be done (true, the Graftek's look good with Campagnolo Nuovo Record or new stuff), but remember that this machine is lipripper's first foray into the vintage lightweight scene - last thing he would want to do is complicate (and add considerable expense) by mounting a whole new gruppo on it.

No reason to do so - he already has some of the NR components. Wish I had the remainder of the components (plus a stock crankset) to trade for the Colnago crankset though :thumb:

-Kurt

Where are you located? There might be a C&V member in the area or a decent bike shop that could help you out.

Near as I can see it, all it needs is a pair of 700C wheels (plus tires + tubes, of course), rear derailer, chain, replacement crankset (only so the Colnago crankset can be allocated to a deserving Colnago), new brake pads, cables, and a lot of tender lovin' care.

It may sound like a lot, but many of us could do the above in a single day if we're particularly gung-ho about a project, and have all the parts available. Don't admit defeat before you've started!

-Kurt

by replace, I mean put back on the parts you took off.

Marty

Kurt,
Thank you very much for your help!!!
you make it sound very easy---but I know better:)
I live in Mountain Home, AR--
I will spend some time the next day or 2--
trying to locate the missing stuff--
(I did look around a bit this AM but did not have any luck--
I have to sift through 35 years of my wife's crap to find the box of stuff--)

I will clean this thing up-- and post some more pic's when I get her cleaned--
Thanks again,
Dave

I've been nursing vintage lightweights for about three years now - it is virtually second nature to me. (Though most of the fellows have been doing so here for many more years then I have though - I'm the rookie when it comes down to seniority).

Mountain Home, Arkansas? Anyone here near that would be willing to help Dave out?

Look for a decent pair of 700C wheels. Need not be new or fancy - a pair of used, straight, and un-cracked aluminum rims with stainless spokes would do you well. If you can locate any hole-in-the-wall (preferably - more likely to have older parts at good prices) bike shop in your area, visit them and see what you can find.

An adequate rear derailer would have been the Campagnolo Nuovo Record or Super Record, but the former's penchant for fiddly first-time adjustment would probably drive you nuts. Super Record would do nice, but it is usually pricey. If you want to stay on budget, seek an older, slant-parallelogram derailer.

Suitable cranksets include Campagnolo (same as what you have, but the stock model), Mavic, Ofmega, Galli, some older Shimano, etc.

Use some Flitz metal polish (if not Flitz, Blue Magic or Never Dull works well) on the aluminum lugs to shine them out. I've never fiddled with early carbon fiber, so I don't know exactly what would be suitable for the tubing.

-Kurt

As I recall Wayne and Dale Stetnia, and John Howard raced on these bike for a while. Most likely some mom got tired of keeping her kid's old race bike, and gave it to you. Wonder who the rider was...

oh yeah, a car paste wax could help clean up the clear coat over the carbon, in the same way that it can be used to buff the haze off plastic automobile headlight lenses

Do you mean conventional wax, or products such as Meguiars Scratch X or KIT Scratch Out?

-Kurt

I am starting to learn a bit about this graftek--
has a real history to it--wish I would have taken better care of it--:(
the connectors are made of steel--
it seems that the Colnago crankset on the bike is a hard to find item???
I thought I still had the rims but I did not see them on my first treck into the darkness of my wifes mound of crap--